Electric switch



Sept. 6, 1927. 1,641,264

A. C. GAYNOR ET AL ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed April 23, 1924k 2Sheets-Sheet 1 mf ARTHUR C. GAYNOR.

DW//Y (r GA VNOR:

sept.. 6, 1927, 1,64L264 A. C. GAYNOR ET AL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original med April 2s, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 j 754 E 4II m, ATHr/K CG/JYNOR.

[TDW/N G. G11/NOR.

\ f y /1 ATTORNEY Patented seat. e, 1927.

' iJNlTED STATES;

'1,641,264 PATENT ortica.

.ARTHUR C. GAYNOB AND EDWIN G. GAYNOR, 401E STBATFOBD, CCNNECTICUT; SAIDEDWIN G. GAYNOR ASSIGNOR T SAID ARTHUR C. GA'YNORP;

iinne'rnic swi'icn.

' Application led April 23, 1924, Serial No. 708,890. Renewed December21, 1928.

This invention relates. to an electric switch and, more particularly toa type of switch in which a spring action is utilized to secure aquickmaking andbreaking of contact between the contact terminals.

Among the object-s of the .invention are, to provide a toggle or switchthrowing element for operating the moving Contact making blade which isformed of a stamped piece of insulation without inserts or metal pieces,to provide an improved spring deviceor arrangement giving an effectivekick to the moving blade element over a dead point to make or. breakcontact with the contact terminals, to provide. a switch or movableblade insulated from, all other elements except vthe contact terminalsat'the time oit Contact, to a switch held together entirely byentrusions of metal and without rivets, eyelets, or screws, to a 'switchhaving a complete metal barrier between the switch elements and the bodyof the operator, and to other improvements inthe construction ofswitches ofthis type.

With these and other' objects inview the invention comprises the various:teaturesdescribed and set forth inthe following speciiication andclaims.

The various features of the' invention* are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which; y

Fig. 'l is a plan view of a switch embodying .a lpreferred form of theinvention,

i"ig..2 is a view in side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1,

Fig, 3 is a vertical sectional View of the switch taken on the line 3--3of l,

Fig. e, is a vertical sectional view of the switch taken on line 4.-,4of Figui,

f Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view ofl the switch taken on line 5--45of Fig'. et,

` l4` ig. t is an enlarged sectional view of the swinging blade andcontact terminals lof the switch, the position of the toggle'orswitch,throwing element being indicated in dot andy dash lines. Fig. 7 is aview of the swinging cont-act blade and contact terminals similar tothat of Fig. 6 but showing the toggle elements' .in a position justpassing over the dead center of the switch.

'Fic'. 8 is a view ofthe switch elements l similmar to that of Fig. 7but showing the Fig. 9 is a view of a support for A'the swinging bladeand toggle elements, l

Fig. 10 is a pers ective detail view of a' rocking elemento the toggleswitch element,

Fig. 11' is a detail view of contact elements Vand insulating andsupporting elementstherefor, and the 'toggle and moving blade Yelementsshown in positions slightly spaced' from their assembled positions,

Fig. 12 is a side view of the fixed contact terminals and theirsupporting insulating mountings, one of the insulating elements beingshown in slightly displaced position,

Fig. 13 is a top or plan view of the elements shown in Fig. 12, one ofthe insulating elements or lates being shown in proper position in ottedand dash lines and in displaced position in fullA lines.

Fig. itis a. view in perspective of th various elements of the switch.shown in positions spaced upwardly 4from the positions which. theyoccupy in assembled position.

In our present .inventionthe metallic or conducting elements of theswitch are mounted in a receptacle 'or enclosing structure of insulatingmaterial, preferably one built up of plates or laniinae of insulatingmaterial held in position by a suitable frame structure. The moving' orswinging elements of the switch are mounted on a stand, Ywhich may be ofmetal, and which is held-in position'by being fitted'between the wallsof the enclosing receptacle andV also by the aid of protrusions orextrusioiis of metal anchoring into suitable openings in the insulatingplates withoutA the necessity of rivets .or other similar joining oranchoring elements. On this stand or support is pivoteda contactconnecting or switch member having rigid arms adapted, in one position,yto 'span and connect a pair of insulated contact terminals mounted inthe 'receptacle and, in another position, to swing free of these contactterminals. Thisl swinging contact element is actuated, through suitableAspring or snap connection, from a `rocker also pivoted on the stand orsupport on arr axis spaced'from that of the. contact' element. Thespring device is so constructed and mounted ybetween the contact and therocker` elements that, as the rocker is tilted on its pivot the springis com ressed,

yteiuzling to hold the contact in position, un-

ltil the rocker passes a point within its path of movement and afterthis point is passed the spring is permitted to expand and throw thecontact element to its extreme opposlte position.v This rocker elementis preferapanying drawings, the switch elements, comprising a pair ofinsulated contact terminals 16 Iand 18 and a pivoted contact connectingor switch member 20, are mounted in a. box or'receptacle 21 made up oitplatesl of insulating material. rlhe contact terminals are mounted andheld between a plate 22 forming an outer side wall. of the box and aplate 24 forming an inner wall or partition, the terminals having forthis purpose portions 26 and 28 bent at an angle' to lie `against theouter tace of the wall 22, portions passing inwardly and fitting innotches 80 and 32 in the ends of the wall, then extending' sidewise asat 34 and 36 between the walls 22 and 24 and then extending'throughnotches 38 and 40 in `the ends oit the inner .wall 24 and orwardly at 42and 44 to a position in the box tbe touched by the contact connectingmember 20, when the latter is in contacting position. As shown in thedrawings, it isv preerred to have one Vcontact terminal in an uppercorner and the other one in the opposite lower A end corner. Theterminals are bent at right angles at their inner ends to form contactportions 46 and 48 in position to be touched by the ends of the pivotedconnecting contact member 20. The'face portions 26 and 28, lying on theouter face of the wall 22, are also provided with suitable bindingscrews 50i and 52 through which electric connections may be made with anoutside circuit. The contact terminal members are held in position inthe notches inthe ends of' the walls or plates 22 and 24 by means of endplates 54 and 56 of insulating material lying against the ends of theplates 22 and 24 to form the end walls oi' the insulating enclosurethewalls 54 and 56 being provided with notches 58 and 60 suitablypositioned to receive projecting portions 62 and 64 of the walls 22 and24 thus holding these walls and the contact terminal members ittedrigidly in position. The walls 22 and 24 are further held in positionbymeans of a plate 66 forming the bottom on? the insulating enclosurelying under the wall 24 and provided with ian opening 68 into whichlits. a lug portion 70 extending downwardly from the lower edge of thewall 24.

The switch member 20 for connecting the contacts 16 and 18 and theactuating mechanism therefor are mounted on a support or frame 72 shownin perspective in Fig. 9 in the enclosing insulating structure andhaving a side wall 74 extending upwardly adjacent the wall 24 from abase wall 76 supported on the bottom plate 66. The actuating element ismounted on the wall 74 and" `wall 74 through an opening 82 in the innerwall plate 24. The support or frame 72 is held against the wall 24 by anouter side wall 84 which, with a cover plate 86 of' insulating material,completes the enclosing insulating structure.`

The switch member 20l is pivoted on a pivot pin 88 stamped from theupper portionl of the side wall 78 towards a spaced portion '90 formedby continuing the upper portion' and retained between the side Wall 8'andi downwardly depending portion 90. A pair of rigid or integral arms94 and 96 are formed on the switch member 20 to extend at i oo suchangles from each other that their ends,

in one position of this member, touch or contact with the contactportions 46 and 48 of f the contact terminals 16 and i8 positioned atopposite corners'of the insulating enclosure as shown in Figs 4, 6 and-7, one arm 96, in this position resting against the under side of theupperhorizontal portion 92., `When the contacts connecting member istilted to bring the other arm 94 against the under face of the portion92, the arms 94 and 96 are swung to bring their ends to the oppositecorners or the insulating enclosure and at the maximum distance from theContact 'faces 46 and 48, as indicated in Fig. 8. The switch member 20is preferably formed of a pair of plates or laminas 98 and 100 placedside by side and having their contact ends slightly spread to tightlyenclose the contact portions 46 and 4/8 of the Contact terminals.Vp'llhe ledges of the contact portions 46 and 48 are beveled as at 102 toprevent or minimize the dangerv of the switch member striking the edgeof the portions and thus failing to maire an eective contact. A

.The switch member 20 is also provided with a downwardly depending arm104 in an equi-angular positionI to the arms 94 and 96 through 'which anactuating movement or impulse may be received from a spring 106preferably of a flat coil type having one ond 107 connected to the lowerportion of the arm 104 and connected at its other end to an operatingmechanism. To provide a secure anchorage for thel end of the spring 106the laminas or plates 98 and 100 are separated vat the lower end of thearm 104, the end of the plate 98 being bent about the end of the plate100 as shown in Fig. 5.

A rocker member 108 from which the impulse is given to the spring 106 ismounted on a pivot pressed inwardly from the wall 74 of the supporting,frame and is retained in position between the wall. 74 and a lug 112punched up from the bottom wall 78` of supporting frame in spacedposition from' the wall 74. The end 113 of the spring 106 is attached tothe rocker member 108 at some distance above the pivot 110, the rocker108bei1ig provided for this purpose with an upwardly projecting arm 114,

slightly offset towards the spring and switch member and provided in itsupper portion with a perforation 116 to receive the -end of the spring.

When the switch member 20 swings Afrom one limit of its movement to theother on the pivot 90 the end 107 of the spring 106 attached to the arm104 of the swinging member swings :trom one side of the ivot 110 of therocker 108 in an arc passing eneatli this pivot. Similarly, when therocker member swings on the pivot 110, ,the end 113 of the spring swingsfrom side to side of the pivot 90 on an arc passing above this pivot.'The spring 106 tends to expand and, as any tendency for the arm 104,01?the switch member- 20, to swing from one position. to the other' aboutthe pivot 90 tends to swing the end 107 of the spring nearer to the end113, the spring 106tends to keep the switch member in one limit or theother of its limit of move- 'ment corresponding to the position of therocker 108. 'lhusV when the switch member and the rockervmember are inthe position shown in Fig. 6 afswinging of the end 107l of the spring tothe lett about thepivot 90 would compress the spring 106.

As the rocker arm 108 is tilted on the pivot 110 to the right from theposition of Fig. 6, the end 113 of the springe. 106 also swings aboutthe pivot-110 and is brought closer to the end 107 thus compressing thespring and tending to hold the member 20 in position. rlhis compression'continues with the movement of the rocker arm until a position ofmaximum compression is reached at a oint on the center line of thepivots 90 an 110 between the limits of movement of the rockler arm, asindicated approximately in Fig.

would be accompanied by an expansion of the spring, and, accordingly,the spring tends to expand and throw the arm to the position shown inFig. 8, the energy vstored up in the previous compression ofthe springserving to throw the switch member 20 to this position with a strong,positive kick.

The rocker member 108 is operated by means Vof a handle member 118of'insulating material having a portion projecting through a slot 120 inthe cover 86. The lower edge of the handle member' 118- is straight at124 at each endto rest on correspondingstraight faces 126 on the upperedge of the rocker member and the handle member 118 is held in position'on the rocker member by extending the end 113 of the Y spring 106through a suitably placed vopening in 'j the handlel member; The handlemember 118 is held in position on the rocker member against sidewisedisplacement by being inserted between the oiset arm 114 and the wall24. To further position and secure the insulating handle in position onthe rocker the rocker is provided with an upstanding lug 128 iittingintoa notch 130I in the lower edge of the handle member and being turned atan angle as 132. When the various parts of the apparatus are assembledthe handle element will be held in position without the necessity or anyfurther holding means.

The various walls ot the insulating enclosure are held in position bymeans of a metallic frame 134 and a metallic cover plate 136. The frame134 is "formed with a bottom plate 138 on which the insulating plate 66rests, end plates 140 and 142 against which the end insulating plates 54and 56 are positioned and a back plate 144 against which the side plate84 is held. A lug 146 project-- ing upwardly from the front edge of thebottom plate serves to hold the plate 22 in position. rli`he top plate136 is turned downwardly at its edges to orm a downwardly dependingflange 148 which encloses the upper edges of the walls 140, 142 and 144,and is held in position by means of lugs 150 and 152 which projectthrough openings 154 and 156 at the edges of the cover and are turnedvdownwardly against endwise projecting arms 158 and 160 of the coverplate. arms 158 and 160 are provided with suitablel openings 162 and 164for securing the device in position. An opening 166 is also provided inthe cover in alignment with the opening 120 in the cover plate 86 topermit the handle member 118 to project out oi the receptacle'inposition to be grasped by an operator. Vlhe upper edge of the handlemember is rounded as at 168 to closely fit the openings 120 and 166 inall positions of the handle. i, f

`In assembling the apparatus, the switch member 20 and the rocker 108are pivotally secured in the trame 72 and the other memimv bers of thedevice are then fitted in their proper places and inserted into theframe 134. The interfitting of the various inembers then serves to holdthem in their proper ositions Without further/ securing means.

vn assembling the various elements of the device, the plates. 22 and 24and the contact terminals 16 and 18. are titted into position asindicated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and the end pieces then itted to theends ofI the plates 22 and 24 to hold them in position. The handlemember 118 is then iitted onto the rocker 1081v andthe lug 80 of theframe 72 fitted into the opening 82 in the plate 24. The structure thusassembled is placed in the relation shown in Fig, '14 the lug 70 of theplate 22 being titted into the opening 68 in the bottom plate 66, theplate 84 being placed in position against the inner face of the wallAl144 of the trame 134 and these elements be* ing then pressed intoposition in the iframe. The cover plates 86 and 136 are then placed onthe trame the lugs 150 and 152 projecting through the openings 154 and156 and then es clinched into place.

Aschanges of construction could be lmade within the scope ot ourinvention it is 1ntendedthat all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in-'a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: l

1. A device et' the type described which comprises, an enclosure havinga pair of spaced walls of insulating material, said walls having notches.at their. ends, one of said walls forming an outer wall of Seiden- Y"30 lclosure, a pair of contact terminals, one at /each end of saidenclosure, each terminalhaving a portion fitted between the, endportions ot said plates and extending through said notches' to the outertace of said outer wall and to theinterior of said enclosure.

2. A device of the type described which comprises, an enclosure having apair of. spaced. walls of insulating material', said walls havingnotches at their ends, one of said walls forming the outer wall of theenclosure, the notch at one end of the inner place being at the upperedge corner andthe notch at the other end being at vthe lower edgecorner, a -pair of contact terminals one at each end of said enclosure,each terminal having a portion iitted betweenthe end portions ot saidspaced walls and extending through said notches to the outer @n notc Mouter wall ot said enclosure, said walls haviace of the outer wall andthrough the. hes at the corners of said inner wall to,

ing notches in .their ends, a pair of contact v terminals one ateach endof saidenclosure, each terminal having a portion fitted between the endportions ofsaid Walls, and

extending through and lying fiat against the outer face ofv said outerwall and extending inwardly through the notches of said inner wall tothe interior of said enclosure.

4. A device of the type described which comprises, a pair of spacedwalls of insulating material. one of said walls forming au outer wall ofsaid enclosure, said walls having notches in their ends, a pair ofcontact terminals one at each end of said enclosure, each terminalhaving a portion fitted bctween the end portions of said walls,extending through the notches of said'outer wall and through the notchesof said inner .Vii'all to the interior of said enclosure, and

closure. each terminal having ya portion' fittedl 'between the endportions of said walls, and extending through the notches of said outerwall and through the notches of said inner wallto the interior of saidenclosure, end walls-having spaced notches to` receive the end portionsof said spaced walls, and a metallic holding frame retaining said wallsin position.

6. A device of the. type described which comprises, a pair of spacedwalls of insulating material, one of said walls formin an outer wall ofsaid enclosure, said walls aving notches in their ends. a pair ofcontacty terminals, one at each end of said enclosure,

each terminal having a portion fitted between the end portions of saidwalls, and extendino' through the notches of said outer wallanilnthrough the notches of said inner wallv to the interior of saidenclosure, said inwardly extending portions lying one at the upperportion -and one at the'lower portion of their respective ends of theenclosure, and a pivoted switch member having arms connecting saidcontact',y terminals in one position and tiltable to a positiondisconnected from both of said terminals..

7, A device of the type described which comprises, an insulatingenclosure, a pair of contact terminals therein, a switch member, a standon which said switch member is pivoted in operative relation to saidcontact terminals, a' wall of insulating material in saidenclosure, saidwall having an open'- ing therein, said stand fitting into saidinsulating enclosure against said, wall, and a lug on said standVFitting into. said opening in said wall. f

sav

nos

8. A device of the type described which comprises, an insulatingenclosure formed of Walls fitted to each other and held in a metal`frame, a pair ol' Contact terminals therein,

in a metal trame, an inner wall of insulat. ing material vspaced fromone of the outer -side walls and having an opening in its' inner faceand notches iii its ends, a pair of contact terminals one at each endofsaid enclosure, each terminal having a portion itted between said innerwall and the v proximate outer wall and extending through y said notchesinto the interior of said enclosure, a switch member, a stand on whichsaid switch member is pivoted in operative relation to saidcont-actterminals, said stand fitting into said enclosure against theinner face of said inner wall, and a lug" on said stand itting into theopening in said inner i wall.

10. A ldevice of the type described which comprises, a stand havingspaced upright walls, a pivot on one wall. ay switch member on saidpivot, said wall beingbeiit downwardly vto enclose said switch member, arocker member pivoted on the inner face of the opposite wall, an uprightlug struck up from the bottom of said stand to enclose said rochermember and a spring' between and connected to said rocker member andsaid spring.

l1. A devicev of the type described which comprises, a stand havingapair of spaced upright walls, a pivot on one wall, a switch member onvsaid pivot, said switch member having a pair of switch arms extendingsidewise from said stand and a downwardly depending arm therebetween, arocker member pivote'd lon the inner` face of the opposite v wall, aspring between and connected at its ends to said rocker and said switchmembers, and means on said walls to retain said rocker and switchmembers onsaid pivots.

12. A device of the type described which comprises, a stand having apair of spaced upriht walls, a pivot on one wall, a switch mem er onsaid pivot, said switch member having a pair of switch arms extendingthrough opposite ends of said stand and a downwardly extending armdepending therebetween, a rocker member pivoted on the inner face of theopposite wall, a spring between and connected to said rocker and switchmembers and stops on the upper part of said wall on which said switch ismounted against which said switch arms may abut.

13. A device of the type described 'which comprises, a supporting wallparocker pivotedon one side of said wall, an offset arm projectingupwardly from said rocker, a handle of insulating material tted to restagainst the upper edge of said rocker, said handle member beingcontained between said offsetarm and said supportingr wall, and a pinextending from said arm into an opening in said handle member.,

' 14. A device of the type described which comprises, an enclosure ofinsulating material having a pair of spaced walls, one of said wallsforming an outer Wall and the other an inner wall of said enclosure,said walls having notches in, and` lugs projecting from, their ends, apair of contact terminals oneI at each end of said enclosure, eachterminal having a portion held between said walls and a. portionprojecting through said notches into the interior` of said enclosure,

end walls having notches receiving said lu s, a bottom wall having;r anopening, a lug eending from said inner wall into said opening, a supporthaving a lug projecting therefrom into an opening in said inner wall, anenter wall holdingN said support in position against said inner wall, aframe holding said walls in position, and a switch member and actuatingmeans therefor mounted in said stand to swing'into `Contact with saidcontact terminals.

ARTHUR c. eAYNfon. isn c, Gerson.

